doi:10.7916/d8-j2zh-d946Oral history interview with Odel, 1981Odeloral historiesmixed materialDrug addicts--United StatesImprisonment--United StatesDrug abuse--History--20th century.--United StatesHeroin abuse--History--20th century.--United StatesDrug traffic--History--20th century.--United StatesSwindlers and swindlingCrime--New York (State)OdelIn this interview, Odel discusses his life in New York City, with respect to his drug use. He discusses running away from home at eleven years old, traveling the United States on freight trains, and eventually settling in New York City at the age of sixteen. He discusses his career as a conman in New York, and his excursions across the country with a group of fellow conmen. He explains in detail con games like flim flam and the pocketbook drop. He describes his first experience using heroin in the late 1930s. He estimates the price of his heroin habit per week across decades from the 1930s to the 1960s, and compares it to his weekly income as a conman. He reviews his arrest history, explaining that between 1949 and 1965 he was arrested forty-nine times, and spent a total of nine years in jail, including at Rikers Island. He discusses contracting hepatitis in 1961 from sharing heroin needles. He defines and compares the terms "dope addict," "dope fiend," and "dope user." He compares heroin addicts in the 1930s to heroin addicts in the 1980s. He discusses the drug panic of the 1960s. He compares his experience at various private methadone programs to the program at Beth Israel Medical Center